From National Review editor Rich Lowry:
Republican opposition to New START is collapsing. One Senate source just told me the vote for ratification could go as high as 75. Another said, “I don’t know if it will get that high, but it’s starting to tick up there.” As the sense builds that ratification is inevitable, Republicans are lining up to get on the “right side.”
In other words, a big chunk of the Republican caucus has known all along that New START was a good treaty but was holding out for strictly partisan purposes. If it had been close, and giving Obama a black eye had been a serious possibility, they would have voted no. But with that option gone, they’re willing to vote yes. It’s a real profile in cowardice.
This says nothing good about the modern Republican Party. Everyone expects partisan gameplaying in Congress, but over a nuclear arms treaty with Russia? Seriously?